The story of Dave, an emotionally unstable adolescent who cannot accept that his girlfriend has quit going steady with him and the football coach has benched him, and how he loses control and gets into trouble.

More like emotional immaturity, if you ask me. Teen-aged Dave flies off the handle at every least little provocation. Consequently, his girlfriend breaks up with him in favor of the most popular jock in school, and he gets benched by the football coach, which causes him to quit the team. We get to overhear his classmates talking behind his back; the general opinion of the boys is that hes full of himself, while the girls think hes a mamas boy. Of course, things are not exactly groovy at home, having as he does a dad that flies off the handle at every least little provocation (especially involving Dave), and a mom who must have made the finals in the Miss Codependency contest. Dave ends up going off the deep end and slashing the tires of his rivals hot rod. These characters should be glad its the 50s and only rubber is involved; today, Dave would raid his dads gun collection and shoot up the school. The film ends on a depressing note, with the narrator stating that Dave may be rehabilitated with lots of professional help, but implying its not gonna be easy. This film is pretty much as campy as it sounds, though its also pretty depressing. Dave is the most interesting character in it, having as he does a rubber face and a voice that sounds like hes in his 40s. Although he generates little empathy himself, after only a few minutes with his dad you know exactly where his emotional instability comes from. These Crawley films are full of dysfunctional 50s families, making them a good antidote to all those Father Knows Best-type sitcoms.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ****.

After the most peppy music heard in a social film in a long while, we meet David, who is going out with hid girlfriend.. not so fast! His girlfriend breaks up with him and of course, starts going out with the Big Jock In School! After kicking down a well placed bicycle, Dave goes home. Things at home arent too rosey either, with a overbearing father and a meek mom. David gets no satisfactorial parental guidance from there, so he heads down to the malt stop. In a scene that curiously reminded me of grease, we see Dave's ex and her new beau chirping away. After running back home (!!) and finding out again that he's misunderstood, David goes out for another walk, where he see's his ex's new beau's car...

This is QUITE good, being Canadian and all (and I'm Canadian!) The actor playing David has the most amazing hair and is totally convincing. Nice acting all all around, good camera work as well. This is well worth your time and is highly reccomended!

Shotlist

Story of Dave, emotionally unstable adolescent who cannot accept facts that his girlfriend has quit going steady with him and football coach is keeping him on bench. Shows how he loses control of self and gets into trouble.
Ken Smith sez: This is a Crawley film. Crawley films were made in Canada, and typically have great titles -- full of promise -- but end up VERY depressing. In this one, teenager Dave is having his share of problems -- his dad doesn't respect him, he can't afford a car, and his girlfriend leaves him because he "acts like a kid." In any other guidance film, Dave might at least have a chance for salvation -- but since this is a Crawley production, you know he's doomed. Dave decides to vent his frustrations by slashing the car tires of his girlfriend's new beau and, of course, he's caught. "How did Dave get in a situation like this?" the narrator asks. "Dave was emotionally unstable," is the immediate, unforgiving answer. A merciless and depressing film.